The University of South Carolina Concert Choir to perform at il Teatro Flavio Vespasiano in Rieti on Wednesday, March 9 at 9:00PM

Incantato Tours proudly presents the University of South Carolina Concert Choir, under the direction of Dr. Larry Wyatt, in the magical Il Teatro Flavio Vespasiano in Rieti at 9:00 Wednesday evening.
Il Teatro Flavio Vespasiano is the main theater of Rieti, a town in the commune of Lazio in central Italy. The current structure dates back to December of 1883 but was not officially inaugurated until September 20, 1893, featuring productions of Goethe’s Faust and Pietro Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana. The theater, named for the Roman Emperor Vespasian, required ten years of construction under the direction of Milanese architect Achille Sfondrini.

The theater underwent complete restoration from 2005 through 2009. A grand re-opening celebration commenced on January 10, 2009 featuring conductor Marcello Rota, and soloists Karina Grigoryan, Jessica Pratt, Anna Gorayacheva, and Roman Burdenko. The Secretary to the Prime Minister as well as Senator Franco Marini were in attendance. The restoration efforts totaled more than 3.3 million Euro.The reopening of the theater also fostered the formation of the Flavius Vespasian Foundation, aiming to promote international artistry and music. The Rieti Theatre also annually hosts the Rieti Dance Festival, the International Competition for the New Opera Voices of Mattia Battistini, and the National Competition for Young Actors.

The theatre is well known for its excellent acoustics, a characteristic that earned the structure the very first National Award for the Acoustics. In referring to the acoustics, Professor Bruno Cagli, president of the National Academy of Saint Cecilia, once called the theatre “the world’s best in that respect.”

Bellarmine University Jazz Ensemble in concert at Sala Biance in Florence's Hotel Cellai on Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at 7:00PM

On Wednesday, March 9 the Bellarmine University Jazz Ensemble will perform at the Sala Bianca in Florence's Hotel Cellai at 7:00 PM. Hotel Cellai is located in the heart of the historic center of Florence. Its style recalls the one of the ancient inns of past times where young, European aristocrats stayed while discovering the beauty and artistic mysteries offered in Italy. Flooring in stone or terracotta, stone arches, antique furniture and artistic furnishing accessories make the hotel a unique place. The public areas host monthly exhibitions of Contemporary Arts under the ArteInCasa Visual Arts program.

Famous Italian singer and actor, Gianni Lamagna, attends Bellarmine University Concert in Naples

Incantato Tours & Concerts is honored to have had famous Italian singer and actor Gianni Lamagna in the audience for Bellarmine University’s Schola Cantorum and Louisville Vocal Project concert in Naples. Mr. Lamagna was one of many in attendance as the choirs performed at la Chiesa di Santa Teresa degli Scalzi on Monday, March 7.

Gianna Lamagna, a native of Naples, made his debut in the entertainment business in 1972. From 1974 to ’76, he joined the theatrical cooperative “I Masaniello” along with a troupe of musicians and anthropologists researching the traditional of musical theater.

Mr. Lamagna began studying classical voice in 1979 with Roberto De Simone, which enabled him to pursue a career in professional musical theater and opera. Under the direction of Maestro De Simone, Lamagna has performed in such musicals as L’opera Buffa del Giovedi Santo and Il Drago, as well as the operas Crispino e la Comare, Requiem per Pasolini, and Carmina Vivianea, among countless others.

In 1980, Mr. Lamagna served as one of the founding members of the band Media Aetas, with whom he has performed in Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Israel, Russia, Iraq, the United States of America, Brazil, Algeria, Mexico, and Argentina.

Since 1991, Mr. Lamagna has collaborated with instrumentalist and composer Antonello Paliotti to produce and perform numerous successful recitals, including performances of S’io fossi, DediCanto, Amate Cantate, and Coppola Rossa le Forme Incantate.
Mr. Lamagna is also the founder of “Di Musica in Musica,” an association devoted to discovering and promoting young talent.
In 1997, he began performing with the Nuovo Compagnia di Canto Popolare (New Society of Popular Song), with whom he has presented headlining concerts throughout the world.

In addition to releasing multiple solo records through the independent label Quadro Frame, Mr. Lamagna has recently been invited to sing in such contemporary musical productions such as “Performance intorno a Warhol,”  “Condannati a vagare sui mari” by the Colin Muset Ensemble, Concert Lauda Intorno allo Stabat, Vox Animae with Mariano Rigillo and the Soloists of the San Carlo Theater of Naples.

For more information on Gianni Lamagna, please visit: http://www.giannilamagna.com/inglese/Start.html

Italian-American Jazz Jam Session featuring the Bellarmine University staff and Pietro Condorelli

 

Making friends and tasting Napolitan Specialties

Sampling the local flavors - Bellarmine University students made friends with musicians from the Naples Conservatory Jazz Class over some tasty food.

The Louisville Vocal Project in Concert in Naples

The Louisville Vocal Project presented a highlight concert in Naples at the church of Santa Teresa degli Scalzi.

USC Concert Choir presented their first Italian performances on Sunday, March 6, 2011

USC Concert Choir at Santa Maria Maggiore

The University of South Carolina Concert Choir presented their first Italian performances on Sunday, March 6, 2011. The Choir sang and participated in mass at la Chiesa di San Lorenzo at 6:00PM, followed by a feature concert performance for a full house at la Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore at 8:15PM. Both churches are located in the Tuscan city of Florence.

Dr. Larry Wyatt, the director of the University of South Carolina Concert Choir, shared with us his excitement that the concert was so well received and that the students are all very much enjoying the opportunity to perform in such venues.  

La Chiesa di San Lorenzo stands as one of Florence, Italy’s largest churches, situated in the center of the city’s main market district. It is one of several churches claiming to be Florence’s oldest, having been consecrated in the year 393. The Basilica di San Lorenzo served as the city’s cathedral for 300 years until the Bishop’s official seat was moved to Santa Reparata.

In 1419 parishioner Giovanni di Bicci de Medici offered to finance a new church to replace the Romanesque building. Filippo Brunelleschi, the leading Renaissance architect of the first half of the fifteenth century, was commissioned to design the new structure, although the new building did not reach completion until after the architect’s death. The church is part of a larger monastic complex that boasts numerous additional important architectural works including the Laurentian Library by Michelangelo and the New Sacristy based on Michelangelo’s original designs. The sanctuary’s left aisle displays a large fresco by Bronzino depicting the Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, and the marble choir loft was designed by Donatello, as were the two bronze pulpits. 

La Chiesa di San Lorenzo, Florence

Florence’s Santa Maria Maggiore was originally built as early as the eighth century, with documentation tracing back to the year 931. Popular legend suggests that it may have been constructed in A.D. 580 under the commission of Pope Pelagius, although this theory is not widely supported. The church obtained status of collegiate church and Priory of Florence in 1176 before subsequently expanding its property in 1186. The structure, with the exception of the original external walls and the vaults, was completely renovated in the 13th century to reflect the Gothic style architecture popular of that period. Italian architect and painter Giorgio Vasari is quoted as crediting “Master Buono” as the designer of the new façade and also recorded that following the renovation the high altar then boasted Agnolo Gaddi’s Coronation of the Virgin as well as frescoes by Spinello Aretino. Only fragments of these works survive today.

The exterior of the current structure appears rather simple and undecorated, with stone walls and portals adorned by tympana. The bell tower, which survives from the original Romanesque building, displays an embedded stone head popularly known as Berta. Although the interior appears quite simple, with just a nave and two aisles, the walls flaunt various intricate works of art. Artworks include frescoes by Bernardino Poccetti, a nativity scene constructed by Matteo Rosselli, and a wooden polychrome bas-relief attributed to Coppo di Marcovaldo.

Bellarmine University's Schola Cantorum & Louisvill Vocal Project perform at Chiesa di Santa Teresa Degli Scalzi (Naples) on Monday, March 7 at 4:45 PM

On Monday, March 7 at 4:45 PM, the Bellarmine University Choirs will sing at Chiesa di Santa Teresa Degli Scalzi in Naples. The church is the eponym for the street on which it is located, just around the corner to the north of the National Archaeological Museum. The interior of the church is a treasure trove, with works by painters Paolo de Matteis and Battistello Caracciolo and the sculptor Domenico Antonio Vaccaro, among many others. Also, the church holds a painting of Holy Roman Emperor Charles VII. It is by Giacomo Colombo and is from 1715, the era of the brief Austrian Hapsburg vice-realm in Naples. The chapel of St. Teresa within the church was designed by Cosimo Fanzago and is considered relevant in the history of Neapolitan Baroque art.

University of South Carolina Concert Choir in the news

Musica, al Flavio Vespasiano l'University of Southern Carolina
Il coro della University of Southern Carolina
	Previsto il gemellaggio tra la prestigiosa Università ed il Liceo Classico Marco Terenzio Varrone di Rieti
dalla Redazione lunedì 7 marzo 2011
Insieme alla Basilica di San Pietro ed alla Chiesa di San Lorenzo di Firenze, sarà Il Teatro Flavio Vespasiano di Rieti una delle tappe del tour italiano del Concert Choir della University of Southern Carolina. Il concerto, previsto per le ore 21 di mercoledì 9 marzo (ingresso libero), si inserisce in una serie di iniziative che vedrà la collaborazione tra il Comune di Rieti Assessorato alla Cultura ed il Tour Operator americano Incantato Tours.  A fare da trait d’union è stata Wealbiz, l’agenzia di marketing turistico di Diego Di Paolo. Il Concert Choir è il complesso corale più selezionato della prestigiosa Università della Carolina del Sud, istituzione che vanta una delle più grandi e rispettate scuole di musica in tutti gli Stati Uniti. Il coro ha ricevuto altissimi riconoscimenti anche a livello internazionale sotto la direzione dello scomparso Arpad Darazs, ed ora continua, sotto la guida del Maestro Larry Wyatt la sua tradizione di qualità. Il coro verrà accompagnato dal Maestro William Bates.  Il programma della serata inizia con la cinquecentesca Ave Maria di Tomas De Victoria e termina con il gospel “My God is so high” in un arrangiamento contemporaneo di Moses Hogan. Nel 1987 su invito speciale, il Concert Choir si è esibito per Papa Giovanni Paolo II durante la visita statunitense del Santo Padre e nel 1988 è stato invitato ad effettuare concerti con l’Orchestra Sinfonica di Gerusalemme sotto la direzione di Lawrence Foster, Sergio Comissiona e Krystof Penderecki. Nel 1992 il Coro è stato scelto per partecipare al concerto celebrativo per il bicentenario di Mozart presso il Lincoln Center di New York. L’evento che tende a portare Rieti all’interno dell’importante circuito dei tour europei e delle principali università e licei americani, è di assoluta eccellenza Il concerto sarà solo uno dei momenti della giornata reatina dei giovani artisti statunitensi.  Nel quadro della stessa iniziativa è prevista infatti anche una sosta a Labro con visita e scambio culturale e di esperienze artistiche con il gruppo di artisti internazionali dell’ Art Monastery Project, ospitati all’interno dell’Hotel Colle di Costa con il patrocino del Comune di Labro. Il pomeriggio vedrà poi lo svolgimento di tre Master Class ( Sax, viola e corno francese) tenute dai professori Constance Gee, Clifford Leaman e Robert Pruzin, docenti di musica della prestigiosa Università americana. Le lezioni si terranno presso il Parco della Musica della Provincia di Rieti e saranno frequentate dagli studenti del Conservatorio reatino.  In Teatro, prima dell’inizio del Concerto, verrà formalizzato un gemellaggio tra la prestigiosa Università ed il Liceo Classico Marco Terenzio Varrone di Rieti con uno formalizzazione tra il Maestro Larry Wiatt ed il Preside del Liceo reatino il professor Umberto Eleuteri.

Bellarmine Jazz Ensemble in Maiori

Full House with new and old friends for the Bellarmine Jazz Ensemble in Maiori

Impressions from the Bellarmine University Schola Concert at San Francesco in Maiori

Bellarmine Jazz Faculty in Maiori

Carneval in Maiori

Concert and audience impressions from the BU Jazz Ensemble Gig in Maiori

Full House for Bellarmine Jazz Ensemble in Maiori

First Bellarmine Jazz Ensemble gig a success - repeat concert requested on Sunday, March 6, at 8:30 pm

The Bellarmine University Jazz Ensemble kicked of their 2011 Incantato Italy Performance Tour with a concert at the historic town hall of Maiori on Saturday, March 5 to a full house. The audience, including Assesore Andrea del Pizzo, loved the combo under the direction of Dave Clark so much, that the musicians were asked to present a second concert and jam session the following night again as one of the highlights for the Carneval celebrations when thousands of visitors are expected to come to Maiori on the Amalfi Coast.

Incantato Destination: Monte Porzio Catone, Italy

Monte Porzio Catone is a municipality of the Province of Rome in the Italian Region of Latium and lies approximately twenty kilometers southeast of Rome in the Alban Hills. In addition to the Church of Saint Gregory the Great, erected in 1666 by Carlo Rainaldi for the Borghese family, some of the town’s main attractions include the Astronomical Rome Observatory, the Museum of Wine, the City Museum, and the Iseo Alari Community School of Music. The Astronomical Rome Observatory was built in 1939 and is located two kilometers from the city center. The structure rises from the remains of “Matilda’s Villa,” a first century Roman Villa. Originally built for the purpose of preserving the equipment of the National Observatory in Rome, the rationalist-style Astronomical Rome Observatory now promotes astronomic and scientific studies through educational initiatives and exchanges with schools and universities. Opened in 2000, the Museum of Wine not only provides visitors with wine tastings, but also takes guests through the process of creating wine. A tour of the museum teaches visitors, through the use of photos and demonstrations, the intricate steps of the wine production process. The museum even houses its own exclusive wine cellar. The Monte Porzio City Museum is housed within a recently restored seventeenth century cathedral within the heart of the city. The museum illustrates the multi-thousand-year history of the city through such exhibitions as archeological findings, medieval papal pottery, and seventeenth century art. The Iseo Ilari Community School of Music was founded by the Monte Porzio Catone City Administration in 1999. Through not only classes, but also performances and workshops, the school succeeds in encouraging social interaction and acceptance through the dissemination of music and cultural arts. The school, a recognized institution of the Italian Association of Schools of Music, currently offers studies in Classical Tradition and Music Performance.

For more information on Monte Porzio Catone, Italy, please visit: http://www.comune.monteporziocatone.rm.it/

Bellarmine University Jazz Ensemble will perform at Sala Bianca, Hotel Cellai (Florence) on Wednesday, March 9 at 7:00 PM

On Wednesday, March 9 the Jazz Ensemble of Bellarmine University will perform at the Sala Bianca, Hotel Cellai in Florence at 7:00 PM. Hotel Cellai is located in the heart of the historic center of Florence in an characteristic and quiet area. Its style recalls the one of the ancient inns of past times where young, European aristocrats stayed while discovering the beauty and artistic mysteries offered in Italy. Flooring in stone or terracotta, stone arches, antique furniture and artistic furnishing accessories make the hotel an unique place. The public areas host monthly exhibitions of Contemporary Arts under the ArteInCasa Visual Arts program.

Bellarmine University's Schola Cantorum & Louisville Vocal Project to sing High Mass at Saint Francis Basilica, Assisi on Friday, March 11 at 11 AM

Schola Cantorum and the Louisville Vocal Project will participate in High Mass in the Chapel of Saint Catherine within Saint Francis Basilica on Friday, March 11, 2011 at 11 AM. The Papal Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi, better known as the St. Francis Basilica, is the mother church of the Roman Order of Friars Minor, or the Franciscan Order. Assisi is the birthplace of St. Francis, a Catholic deacon, preacher, and founder of the Franciscan Order. The Catholic Church also recognizes St. Francis as the patron saint of animals, the environment, and one of the two patron saints of Italy along with St. Catherine of Siena. Serving as the final resting place of St. Francis, the Basilica remains one of Italy’s most important destinations of Christian pilgrimage. Founded in 1228, St. Francis Basilica is built into a hillside and comprises two separate churches known as the upper and lower basilicas and the crypt of the interred saint. The interior of the upper church exemplifies early Gothic architecture, and both churches flaunt intricate frescoes by late medieval painters from the Roman and Tuscan schools. Along with the accompanying friary, the basilica is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and valuable landmark in the Assisi community.

The Jazz Ensemble of Bellarmine University Music Department performs at Oratorio di S.Giovanna Antida Thouret (Naples) on Monday, March 7 at 7 PM

S.Giovanna Antida Thouret

On Monday, March 7, 2011 the Jazz Ensemble of the Bellarmine University Music Department, of Louisville, Kentucky, will present a concert of well-known American jazz standards featuring the music of Ellington, Mancini, Rodgers & Hart, Young, and Garner under the direction of Mr. David Clark in Naples. The venue will be a no-more-sacred church, now used as an oratory and concert hall, called Oratorio di S.Giovanna Antida Thouret (former Chiesa dei S.Bernardino e Margherita a Fonseca). The Chiesa dei S.Bernardino e Margherita a Fonseca was built in the XVII century by Pietro de Martino. At the end of the century, chapels were added as well as a dome. After an earthquake in 1980, it was restored and since then has been used as an oratory where the youth meets for performances and social activities.

Bellarmine University Jazz Ensemble will perform at the Tea Room in Siena on Thursday, March 10, 2011 at 9 PM

On March 10, 2011 at 9 PM the Jazz Ensemble of the Bellarmine University Music Department will perform at the Tea Room in Siena. This café is a hot spot for students and the young Senese as it offers hot tea from around the world as well as cocktails. If you like some dessert, then try the cake of the day together with a hot chocolate. You can choose from many board games while you sip your tea, or sit back and listen to the live music. For more information and pictures, follow the Tea Room on facebook.

JSerra Catholic HS Chamber Choir & La Canada HS Choirs in concert at the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence on Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 7:00PM

The La Canada High School Concert Choir and Chamber Singers, along with the JSerra Catholic High School Chamber Choir, will sing mass at 6:00PM, followed by a feature concert at 7:00PM, at the Church of San Lorenzo in Florence on Sunday, April 3, 2011.The Basilica di San Lorenzo stands as one of Florence, Italy’s largest churches, situated in the center of the city’s main market district. It is one of several churches claiming to be Florence’s oldest, having been consecrated in the year 393. The Basilica di San Lorenzo served as the city’s cathedral for 300 years until the Bishop’s official seat was moved to Santa Reparata. In 1419 parishioner Giovanni di Bicci de Medici offered to finance a new church to replace the Romanesque building. Filippo Brunelleschi, the leading Renaissance architect of the first half of the fifteenth century, was commissioned to design the new structure, although the new building did not reach completion until after the architect’s death. The church is part of a larger monastic complex that boasts numerous additional important architectural works including the Laurentian Library by Michelangelo and the New Sacristy based on Michelangelo’s original designs. The sanctuary’s left aisle displays a large fresco by Bronzino depicting the Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence, and the marble choir loft was designed by Donatello, as were the two bronze pulpits.